If your company participated in the Industrial Undergraduate Student Research Award (IUSRA) Program within the past two years, you are aware that the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) has formed a regional partnership with the National Research Council Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) and Springboard Atlantic Inc. to help increase regional opportunities for undergraduate students to conduct research activities in Atlantic companies.

Small and medium-sized Atlantic companies that hire undergraduate science and engineering students for a 12- to 16-week research and development project may be reimbursed up to $6,500 per student (up to $4,500 from NSERC and $2,000 from NRC-IRAP). Please note that NSERC prorates its payments based on the number of weeks the student has worked. Springboard Atlantic Inc. administers the reimbursements for NRC-IRAP. IUSRAs and top-ups will be given on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to availability and to fulfilment of the eligibility criteria.

Please take note of the following changes for 2014–15:

1)  Companies must pay students a set minimum rate during the 12- to 16-week work period in order to be considered for a top-up award from NRC-IRAP.

2)  Companies may qualify for a maximum of two top-up awards from NRC-IRAP per fiscal year (April 1 to March 31).

NSERC would like to remind companies that funding may support up to 15 students per eligible organization per fiscal year (April 1to March 31). NSERC should receive applications from the organization at least four weeksbefore the scheduled start date of the work term. Applications received more than two months after the start date of the student’s work term will not be approved.

If you have any questions regarding the NSERC / NRC-IRAP / Springboard Atlantic IUSRA Regional Partnership Top-Up Awards please contact Richard Isnor at richard.isnor@nserc-crsng.gc.ca

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